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Parents as partners in childcare

Research shows that children benefit more from childcare when their parents have a good understanding of the activities they are doing whilst away from home and are involved in their childcare. This is why Daycare Trust believes that all parents should have the opportunity to be fully involved in their childcare and have the confidence to be partners in their child’s early learning.

You can be involved by finding out more about what your child does each day whilst they at their childcare setting, becoming a member of the management committee, volunteering with children or helping deliver local services.  

Being involved with your child's childcare

Things that you could do to ensure that you are fully involved include:

• Talking regularly to your child’s keyworker about their progress, and telling them about things your child has enjoyed at home.
• Asking whether there are other ways that you can keep in touch, for example by text message or email.
• Looking at your child’s ‘learning journey’ (this is a common name for your child’s record of achievement, and should include examples of drawings, photos etc) and adding things from home.

Management of childcare

Parent participation in the management of service planning of childcare and early learning services ensure that services are developed to meet the needs of the children, young people and families they are for. Many nurseries and children’s centres have parent committees or representatives. Voluntary sector nurseries and pre-schools often have parents on the management board or as trustees.

Volunteering with children

This could include:

• reading to children in a childcare setting,
• helping with music, art or sports activities, or
• helping out with trips.

Many parents find that volunteering in a childcare setting is a great way to meet other parents and feel part of the community. Some even move on to paid work in the setting, or decide on a career in childcare.

Why not arrange an event to celebrate National childcare week?

Helping from home

Many parents are too busy to give time during the day, but there are other things they can do. For example, parents could fundraise, organise social events or help with DIY or publicity.

Delivering local services

Parent volunteers can also help to deliver local services, for example;

• welcoming new parents to a stay and play session or toy library,
• helping to plan and run outings from their childcare setting,
• translating information about their childcare provider into another language, or
• accompanying outreach workers on home visits.

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